Studies on the Constituents of Aspidistra elatior BLUME. I. On the Steroids of the Underground Part

Abstract

Five steroidal compounds were isolated from the dried underground part of Aspidistra elatior BLUME (Liliaceae), and four of them were elucidated to be aspidistrin (diosgenin 3-O-β-lycotetraoside), proto-aspidistrin, methyl proto-aspidistrin, and 1β, 2β, 3β, 4β, 5β-pentahydroxyspirost-25 (27)-ene (Δ^{25 (27)}-pentologenin or Δ^{25 (27)}-neopentologenin), on the basis of physical and chemical investigations. The remaining steroidal compound is suggested to be a new spirostanol compound.